100 days to World Championships

27th June 2011

27th June 2011
With just 100 days to go before the 73rd Senior World Fencing Championships, the under-secretary for the Italian Ministry of Sport, Rocco Crimi, the Italian Foreign Affairs Minister, Franco Frattini and President of the FIE, Alisher Usmanov, led the delegation that officially presented the championships in Rome, this weekend.

The event will take place on the beautiful island of Sicily in Catania, 8-16th October just five years after the event was held in Turin. “Fencing is not only fascinating but makes Italians really proud,” Hon. Franco Frattini said. “My sincere congratulations go to the President of the Italian Fencing Federation (F.I.S.), Mr Giorgio Scarso, both for the extraordinary sporting results in the past years as well as for the assignment of the World Championships. Sicily will match the expectations and the Championships will be an opportunity to build the Italian image. Sport is one of the most important instruments for promoting worldwide peace, dialogue and solidarity. Fencing is, more than others, a sport capable of communicating important values.”

FIE President Mr Alisher Usmanov added, “I am convinced that Italy, Sicily and Catania in particular, will be capable of organising a great show. Every year, World Championships are a big event, but with London 2012 approaching, the 2011 edition is even more important. Italy is one of the strongest actors in the world of fencing, not only due to its victories but also because of the know-how in organizing events.”